When holding bitcoin in self-custody, the secure storage of your private keys is crucial. Let's break down how Theya mobile keys and iCloud Keychain backups ensure your funds remain protected and accessible only by you.

Your mobile key is securely stored on your device. Even if you delete the Theya app, your key remains safe because it’s stored in the local keychain, protected by the iPhone’s secure enclave. This means no one can delete your key, ensuring constant protection.

The mobile key is sandboxed, restricted to Theya, so other apps can’t access it. This keeps your mobile key safe from any unauthorized access in the event that an app on your phone is malicious or compromised.

Your mobile key always remains on the device. Even if you lose access to your Apple or iCloud account, your key is unaffected. "Smart wallets", on the other hand, risk losing funds if a passkey is accidentally deleted or if a malicious party gains iCloud access.

With an iCloud Keychain backup, your actual private key is not stored in the cloud. Instead, an encrypted version of your key is stored in the iCloud Keychain, ensuring it remains protected. This is further secured with double encryption.

Before your mobile key is backed up to iCloud Keychain, it’s encrypted again with Theya’s encryption key. This means neither Theya nor Apple can access your encrypted mobile key. If a malicious party was to gain access to your iCloud account, all they would see is ciphertext.

In the event that you lose or break your iPhone, you can restore your mobile key on a new device using the iCloud Keychain backup.

For long-term security of your funds, we strongly recommend using your mobile key in a multisig context. This adds another layer of protection, making it even harder for unauthorized parties to access your funds.

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